Medals and photographs of Saddler Sergeant James Morrissey

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Sergeant James Morrissey

História

My grandfather James Morrissey was born on 14 February 1878 and worked with his brother Edward in their saddler and harness makers business at 3 lower Patrick Street, Kilkenny.I believe he trained with his Uncle James Brennan who had a saddle and harness makers business on Rose Inn St, Kilkenny. He enlisted at age 37 and left for France on 21 August 1915.It was believed that the war would be over by Christmas, sadly this was not the case and more than 8.5-10 million men were killed in fighting during WW1.
James was a Saddler Sergeant in the Royal Army Services Corps- remount specials No. RTS 8170.We believe he was stationed at the Somme. John Redmond ,the leader of the Irish parliamentary party, encouraged Irish men to enlist in the hope of achieving Home Rule when the war was over.
He was transferred to Class 2 Army Reserve on 13 June 1919. He survived the war and went back to Kilkenny where he continued to work in the saddlery business.He married Margaret Bergin in 1922 and they had one child,Sean. James died January 1963 aged 85 yrs. I did not know my grandfather he died before I was born and I do not know a lot about his war experience as he never talked about it with any family members.

War medals of James Morrissey.
Photographs of James Morrissey in uniform.
Group photograph with ?James Morrissey on the extreme left.
Photograph of visit to Lourdes at the end of the war.
Photograph of a girl described as French friend taken in 1915 .
Also, a photograph of F. Mills - unknown .